July 2012 Page 5
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A national trial connecting young Afghan asylum
seekers in community detention with Adelaide
Catholic school students is being extended amid
great success in breaking down the stereotypes
among both cultures.
The "Build the Bridge" trial being run by the
Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers
with Edmund Rice Education Australia aims
at continuing the social justice teachings of
Edmund Rice students beyond secondary
school. It began in Adelaide in July 2011 and will
finish in December.
The final results of the trial could determine
whether similar programs are rolled out across
the 40 Edmund Rice schools dotted across
Australia.
Build the Bridge development officer Mason
Somerville said about a dozen senior students
from Rostrevor College, Christian Brother's
College and St Paul's College had been meeting
with young, male asylum seekers in community
detention every second Friday since April.
He said the trial has been extended to include
Term III, with the students and asylum seekers
usually meeting for three hours twice a month to
share a meal and play sport together.
"Our students are learning about other cultures
and demystifying the asylum seeker myths," said
Mr Somerville. "They are becoming real friends,"
he said.
A group of up to eight Afghan youth under 18
years old have so far attended the Friday Night
Hang-out Project. They arrived in Australia
without parents or a guardian and live in
community detention in Adelaide. They are cared
for by a non-government organisation that did
not wish to be named but was pleased with the
youths' involvement in the trial.
Chris Deegan, 16, from Rostrevor College, said
the Afghan boys recently told the group of their
journey to Australia.
"I can't imagine what it would have been like,
it was very moving," said Chris. "It makes you
realise they aren't just the people you see on the
news."
Corey Billows, 17, from CBC, said: "The program
has given me the chance to meet (young asylum
seekers) and get to know them for who they
really are. They all deserve to be here."
St Paul's College captain Jake McCann, 17, said
the experience so far had been "eye opening"
and "inspirational".
"I have thoroughly enjoyed and embraced every
moment I've got to spend with the young asylum
seekers," he said.
New mates bridge
cultural divide
UNITY: Rostrevor
College students (L-R)
Samual Lungershausen,
Dion Guerrera and Chris
Deegan look forward
to their fortnightly hang
out sessions with young,
unaccompanied Afghan
asylum seekers.
Photo: Nat Rogers